Columbus – Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus, released an analysis today proving what Kasich Administration critics have long suspected: the Governor has merely shifted the responsibility for adequately funding Ohio schools from the state to the local level.

Specifically, IO’s analysis finds that since May, 2011, a record-breaking $1.1 billion in local property and income tax levies earmarked for schools has appeared on local ballots. Voters approved just 40% – or $487 million – leaving numerous school districts across the state scrambling to maintain needed academic programs and staffing levels.

IO stressed that the $1.1 billion figure includes only new operating money, not renewal or replacement levies or money for capital projects.

Said Innovation Ohio President Janetta King:

“In his first budget, released in March, 2011, Governor Kasich cut K-12 funding by $1.8 billion, compared to the previous biennial budget.

“At the time, Innovation Ohio, along with the state’s education community and many newspaper editorial pages, repeatedly warned that the Kasich cuts were simply shifting responsibility for school funding from the state to the local level.

“Since 2011, Kasich and his allies in the General Assembly have vehemently denied any such shift. And because of the inherent difficulty in tallying up all the levies in Ohio’s 600+ school districts – and separating out new operating levies from renewal, replacement and capital levies – it was hard to prove conclusively who was right and who was wrong.

Until now. As of today, what the Kasich Cuts have meant to school districts and local taxpayers is irrefutable. As of today, the Governor and his allies can no longer claim they aren’t responsible for passing the buck and dodging their constitutional responsibility. As of today, all Ohioans know the true cost of the Kasich Shell Game.”